Emad Mostaque (Stability AI Co-founder) – Who Will Govern the Future of AGI? (Nov 2023)


Chapters

00:00:10 Open Source as a Critical Element of AI Governance
00:03:20 The Future of Governance for Powerful Technologies
00:09:16 Challenges and Governance of AI Development
00:17:51 Transparency and Alignment in AI
00:21:16 AI Alignment and Progress Timelines
00:23:49 AI-Driven Revolution: Preparing for Societal Shifts and Open Innovation
00:25:54 The Future of Knowledge Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence
00:31:30 Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Generative AI: Challenges, Opportunities, and
00:40:53 The Coming Technological Revolution and Its Impact on Society
00:43:53 Harnessing Generative AI for Global Prosperity and Peace
00:51:06 Global Innovation's Dependance on Human Capital

Abstract

Open Source and AI Governance: Navigating the New Technological Landscape

Abstract

The digital era’s rapid evolution amplifies the significance of open-source technology and AI governance. This article delves into the multifaceted aspects of open source in AI, understanding its role in companies like Google, DeepMind, and Anthropic and addressing the debate over openness and transparency in AI development. It highlights evolving governance strategies, data standards, and transparency for AI training, emphasizing the intricate alignment of AI with human values. Furthermore, it explores AI’s transformative role in organizations, the regulatory challenges, and the call for diversity in AI development. It also examines AI’s impact on employment, the potential of stability models and systems, and the encompassing theme of openness. Lastly, the article delves into AI’s creative potential, the concept of exponential progress, and the pivotal role of human capital in advancing these technological strides.

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undergoing a monumental transformation, with open-source technology taking a central stage. This transformation isn’t limited to technology; it encompasses the governance and management of these potent tools. From Stability AI’s governance structures to the pressing need for transparent and accountable AI systems, our approach to AI holds equal importance to the technology itself.

Open Source: A Foundation for AI

Open-source technology, encompassing downloadable models, freely accessible data, and reliance on existing open-source projects, serves as a foundation for AI. Companies like Google, DeepMind, and Anthropic have constructed their AI systems on these foundations. This approach underscores the significance of openness and transparency in AI development, critical for societal benefit and safety. Emad Mostaque emphasizes the complexity of open source in AI, involving aspects such as downloadable models, data availability, and the use of existing open-source models by big companies.

Governance and Ownership: Public Goods and Localized Control

The concept of AI and powerful technologies as public goods is gaining momentum. The argument for localized ownership and control resonates strongly, emphasizing cultural preservation and preventing the outsourcing of culture and intelligence. This shift in ownership models aligns with the broader push for transparent AI systems, aligned with specific goals and focused on data quality rather than outputs. The discussion highlights the significance of openness and transparency in AI to maximize the technology’s benefits for humanity while ensuring safety. Transparency involves understanding what the AI has been taught and how it has been trained. Regulated industries and governments cannot operate on black boxes. The need for effective governance models is stressed to guide the development and use of AI responsibly and ethically.

The Challenge of Alignment and Transparency

Aligning AI with human values poses complexities, compounded by challenges in aligning human interests within organizations and society. Transparency in AI models is paramount for safety and alignment, ensuring that the models are built on high-quality, non-sensitive data sets. This transparency is imperative for regulated industries and government operations. AI safety concerns, such as the fear of AGI wiping out humanity, have dominated governance discussions. This precautionary principle leads to excessive caution and stifles progress.

AI’s Transformative Role and the Need for Regulation

AI possesses the potential to significantly upgrade and enhance organizations, influencing market dynamics and storytelling. However, this transformation raises questions about governance and regulation at both internal and national levels. Openness in AI, in terms of access and ownership of models, is vital, allowing for a broader range of stakeholders to participate and benefit. The focus should be on the real social impact of AI, addressing both positive outcomes and potential harms. Governance should aim to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.

AI’s Impact on Employment and Society

AI advancements are reshaping the job landscape, with implications for employment and social stability. The rise of stability models and systems underscores the need for nations to own their knowledge infrastructure, embedding cultural values and ensuring control over their knowledge assets. Data sets and AI models should be owned by the people of the nations they serve. Local communities should make decisions about the data and models that shape their AI systems. The focus should be on the real social impact of AI, addressing both positive outcomes and potential harms. Governance should aim to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.

The Future of AI: AGI, Swarm AI, and Human Intelligence

The timeline for AGI and swarm AI remains uncertain, with significant implications for society and consciousness. The objective function of AI should prioritize enabling the next generation to navigate these changes and reach their potential. AI’s impact across various fields, from medical diagnosis to education, underscores the need for careful consideration and regulation. The most powerful AI technologies should be treated as public goods, collectively owned and individually accessible. This prevents choke points and ensures technology becomes an integral part of life.

AI’s Creative Potential and Exponential Progress

AI is not just a tool for automation; it has the potential for creation, control, composition, and collaboration. This creative potential, coupled with rapid technological advancements, presents both opportunities and challenges. The concept of linear versus exponential thinking is crucial in understanding the impact of AI. Individual ownership of AI models is desirable, allowing users to have personalized co-pilots that guide them through life. Centralized control by a single organization is impractical and undesirable.

Stability AI’s Vision for the Future

Stability AI’s commitment to using generative AI for global challenges and enhancing human capabilities is a beacon in the technological landscape. Their vision of a peaceful and abundant future, supported by AI, offers a hopeful narrative amidst the challenges and uncertainties of this new era.

Addressing Brain Drain and Human Capital

The issue of brain drain, particularly in countries like Bangladesh, highlights the importance of human capital. Attracting and retaining talented individuals is key to progress, emphasizing that technology is not the only scarce resource in this equation. Stability AI’s goal to guide AI development for societal benefit reflects a broader understanding of the importance of governance and regulation in this field. As AI continues to evolve, the focus remains on ensuring that it serves as a tool for the betterment of society, rather than a source of disruption and inequality.

Generative AI’s Universal Impact

Generative AI, like GPT-4 and Stable Diffusion, is poised to revolutionize industries and enhance human capabilities across the board. It enables the development of models covering audio, 3D, video, code, and more, empowering a vibrant community of users.

Mitigating Doom and Promoting Abundance

Generative AI can reduce the likelihood of catastrophic outcomes by enhancing human potential and coordination. By promoting access to essential resources and fostering a world of abundance, the technology can potentially eliminate the motivations for destruction and conflict.

Generative AI as a Universal Translator

Generative AI’s ability to translate ideas across different frames of thought is a game-changer. It can bridge communication gaps and foster understanding, akin to a universal translator.

Generative AI’s Principles-Based Approach

Generative AI learns principles and contexts, enabling it to transform data into actionable insights. This approach, similar to Tesla’s self-driving model, allows for efficient navigation and problem-solving.

Unleashing Innovation and Intelligence Amplification

Generative AI amplifies human intelligence by providing the missing second part of the brain. It allows for the application of learned principles to data, fostering innovation and solving complex problems.

The Largest XPRIZE Ever

A $101 million XPRIZE, focused on health, will be revealed on November 29th. It aims to impact 8 billion people and empower them with access to critical resources.

Cancer GPT: A Transformative Tool

Cancer GPT is a transformative tool that organizes global cancer knowledge, providing accessible guidance and connecting patients with resources. It has the potential to revolutionize cancer care.

Stability’s Role in Governance

Stability in AI development is essential for researchers and developers to focus on creating world-changing technology. Collaboration and shared governance, beyond the nation-state, are crucial for effective AI governance.


Notes by: MythicNeutron